Install WDS (Windows Deployment Services)
On your Windows server in the Server Manager: find Roles, and select Add Role. In the list of available roles, simply check Windows Deployment Services and follow the wizard making sure all sub-components of WDS are checked, which they should be by default. The default configuration can be used for most setups without changing anything.
You can get more detail for different servers and configurations in the Microsoft Technet article: Step-by-Step Guide for Windows Deployment Services in Windows Server 2003.
During the configuration wizard process you will be asked for a path to install/place the WDS files, and you want to make sure that is on a drive with plenty of available space. Think that you may be storing images for every edition of every version of Windows for every architecture! I believe it defaults to C:\Remote\Install and in my case, I merely changed the drive letter to D: to place it on that drive. A network share named REMINST will automatically be created pointing to this directory.
Before you continue:
- If you are a PC Tech setting this up to deploy Windows installs to your customer’s PCs:
- you should right click on your server, go to the Properties > Client tab, and check the option: “Do not join the client to a domain after an installation“
- Leaving this option enabled is only handy if you are a network admin and need to join the PC to a domain (e.g. if setting this up for your company’s network to push installs to company owned computer.)
- If your server is running DNS in addition to WDS, see the first issue under the Troubleshooting Issues section.
- Additional considerations may be required if your server is also running DHCP. (Mine is not, so to be honest I’m not 100% familiar with the settings changes you may need to make.)
- Right click on your server, go to Properties > DHCP and review the settings there which may differ depending on your flavor of Windows server.
- If you plan to use WDS to deploy Windows XP, you will want to go ahead and create an OS group for Windows XP
- Under your server > Install Images, right click in the empty space and select Add Install Group, then type a relevant name e.g. Windows XP.
Once this is completed, it’s time to add your first image! See Add Vista/7 Images to WDS to continue this tutorial.
Network Boot Guide
- Install WDS (Windows Deployment Services) <- You are here!
- Install Syslinux
- Troubleshooting Issues
Back to the main Tech Info page!
NEW: d7x now includes 25 resell-able licenses of CryptoPrevent White-Label for each year purchased!
Join us for live tech chat, product questions, support, and technical training right here!
Customer or not, you are welcome to drop in and discuss anything ‘tech’ with us!
-
- d7xTech Show (Video Stream)
- #FoolishTechShow Chat (IRC)
- All Show Notes & News (rss feed)
- G+ Community (get notified of live events!)
- Youtube Playlist (previous episodes)
Latest News
-
d7x v19.11.13 Release Notes Added d7x Tools tab option to search/run all internal d7x...
Read More -
dSupportSuite Client Software Update v19.11.13 Fixes/Additions: During the Maintenance routine’s Windows Defender scan, dSS will...
Read More -
d7x v19.10.28 Release Notes Fixed default email template not loading automatically on the End...
Read More